Filler neck closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A closure assembly includes a filler neck, a housing, and an appearance cover. The housing includes a nozzle-receiving passageway and an interior region. A closure door is coupled to housing and prevents fuel vapor from flowing through passageway. A pressure-relief valve assembly is positioned within interior region and controls the flow of fuel vapor through interior region when the closure door is closed. A valve actuator is coupled to housing and includes a nozzle arm, a stem arm, and a conductor arm. Stem arm moves with nozzle arm and opens pressure-relief valve assembly when nozzle arm is engaged by a fuel-dispensing nozzle upon movement of a nozzle into passageway. A conductor arm is coupled to nozzle arm and is positioned to contact filler neck through an opening in housing. When a nozzle contacts the nozzle arm, any electrical charge present on the fuel-dispensing nozzle is conducted through nozzle arm and conductor arm to the filler neck.

This Application is a 371 of PCT/US99/15617 filed Jul. 9, 1999, whichclaim benefit of Provisional No. 60/092,300 filed Jul. 10, 1998.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a closure assembly for a tank fillerneck, and particularly, relates to a closure assembly that permits afuel filler nozzle to be inserted into a tank filler neck to supply fuelto a fuel tank and closes the tank filler neck when the fuel fillernozzle is removed from the closure assembly. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to filler neck closure vent apparatus.

Automobile fuel tanks are filled with fuel via a fill neck which opensto the exterior of the automobile body. The fill neck has a mouth whichis closed by a removable cover. The automobile owner fills the fuel tankby removing the cover and placing a fuel-dispensing nozzle through themouth and into the fill neck. Fuel is then routed through the fill neckand to the fuel tank.

According to the present invention, a filler neck closure assemblyincludes a portion made of an electrically conductive material. Thefiller neck has an inner surface defining a nozzle-receiving passagewayand an outer end formed to include a mouth opening into thenozzle-receiving passageway. A closure door is mounted for movementrelative to the filler neck and is positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving inthe passageway. An actuator is made of an electrically conductivematerial and is mounted between the mouth and the closure door formovement relative to the filler neck. The actuator includes a conductorarm arranged to contact the electrically conductive portion of thefiller neck and a nozzle arm positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle insertedinto the passageway through the mouth.

In preferred embodiments, the nozzle arm is coupled to a conductor armwhich transmits any electrical charge present from the fuel-dispensingnozzle to the filler neck. Thus, the fuel-dispensing nozzle is groundedbefore a closure door provided internally in the filler neck is openedby the fuel-dispensing nozzle and fuel is dispensed into the fillerneck.

A stem arm also coupled to the nozzle arm moves with the nozzle are andengages a pressure relief valve found within the filler neck. Afuel-dispensing nozzle inserted into the filler neck contacts and movesthe nozzle arm thereby moving the stem arm to open the pressure reliefvalve prior to the fuel dispensing nozzle engaging the closure door.

An appearance cover at the mouth of the filler neck includes a ventchannel in communication with the pressure relief valve to provide aroute for fuel vapor passing through the pressure relief valve to escapeto the atmosphere. The appearance cover is movable to expose an openmouth in the filler neck to permit a user to insert a fuel-dispensingnozzle into the filler neck.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best modeof carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refer to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a closure assembly in accordance with thepresent invention mounted in a fuel tank filler neck and showing aninternal spring-loaded closure door closing an internal nozzle-receivingaperture, a spring-loaded pressure-relief valve for controlling ventingof the filler neck through a passageway separate from thenozzle-receiving aperture, and a valve actuator having a portionpositioned to lie in front of the spring-loaded closure door so that itwill be engaged and moved by a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving into theclosure assembly after an appearance cover of the closure assembly hasfirst been opened to actuate the pressure-relief valve, causing thevalve to move to an opened position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing pivoting movementof the valve actuator to act as a lever to move a stem associated withthe pressure-relief valve so as to move the pressure-relief valvesomewhat against a spring contained therein to an “offset” position toopen the pressure-relief valve so that pressurized fuel vapor in thefiller neck can vent past the pressure-relief valve to the atmospherethrough the opened mouth of the closure assembly while the spring-loadedclosure door remains in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing initialmovement of a fuel-dispensing nozzle into the closure assembly after theappearance cover has been pivoted to an opened position and showingmovement of the fuel-dispensing nozzle to pivot the valve actuator to aposition causing the pressure-relief valve to open so that pressurizedfuel vapor in the filler neck is able to vent past the pressure-reliefvalve and through the closure assembly to the atmosphere through theopened mouth of the closure assembly and causing an electricallyconductive path to be established through the metal valve actuator fromthe nozzle to the filler neck to dissipate static charge on the nozzleby conducting such charge to ground;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 1-3 showing further movementof the fuel-dispensing nozzle into the closure assembly and filler neckduring an initial stage of refueling to open the spring-loaded closuredoor and showing that all excess pressure extant in the filler neck hasbeen vented through the opened pressure-relief valve;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 1-4 showing thespring-loaded closure door biased to its position closing thenozzle-receiving aperture but showing normal, axial movement of thepressure-relief valve to an opened position due to exposure of a valvedisk in the pressure-relief valve to high-pressure fuel vapor in thefiller neck and without movement of the valve actuator against the valvestem associated with the pressure-relief valve; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 1-5 showing thepressure-relief valve in its closed position and showing movement of thespring-loaded closure door away from its annular seal due to negativepressure that has developed in the filler neck so that ambient air isable to flow into the filler neck through a vent passageway formed inthe appearance cover and through an interior region of the closureassembly past the now-opened spring-loaded closure door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A closure assembly 10 is provided for use in vehicle fuel tank fillerneck 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The closure assembly 10 normally closes andseals the filler neck 12. A fuel-dispensing nozzle or fuel source 14 canbe inserted into closure assembly 10 to provide fuel to fuel tank 15through filler neck 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Closure assembly 10also permits the pressure within filler neck 12 to equalize with ambientair pressure within predetermined positive and negative pressure limitsas shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Closure assembly 10 includes an appearance cover 16, an housing 18, aninternal platform 20, a pressure-relief valve assembly 22, a closuredoor 24, a torsion spring 26, and seal 28 as shown in FIG. 1. Housing 18is positioned to lie in an axially outer region of filler neck 12 andprovides an interior portion lying inside filler neck 12. Closureassembly 10 seals and closes filler neck 12 by torsion spring 26 biasingclosure door 24 upward in direction 38 against annular seal 28 whilepressure-relief valve 22 is retained in a closed position as shown, forexample, in FIG. 1.

Cover 16 is not intended to seal filler neck 12 but rather is intendedto prevent foreign objects from entering filler neck 12. Cover 16includes a closure portion 30 for blocking a mouth 31 formed in housing18 and a tether 36. Closure portion 30 is formed to include a ventchannel 32 having a first opening 33 communicating with the atmosphereand a second opening 34 communicating with a nozzle-receiving passageway84 formed in closure assembly 10. Tether 36 is coupled to the body (notshown) of a vehicle (not shown). In alternative embodiments, the coverdoes not need to include a tether.

The housing 18 engages filler neck 12 and is configured to receive andhouse internal platform 20, pressure-relief valve assembly 22, closuredoor 24, and torsion spring 26. In the illustrated embodiment, housing18 slides into filler neck 12 so that filler neck 12 may be crimped ontoclosure assembly 10. In alternative embodiments, the housing may becoupled to the filler neck in any suitable manner including a threadedconnection.

Housing 18 is made of a plastics material and includes anoutwardly-extending shoulder 42. An annular seal 44 is positioned to liebetween the top of filler neck 12 and outwardly-extending shoulder 42 asshown in FIG. 1. A detent (not shown) in cover 16 snaps underneath a lipincluded in housing 18 to secure cover 16 over and within mouth 31formed in housing 18. In preferred embodiments, the detent extendsapproximately 250 degrees about a central axis of housing 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, housing 18 is a two-piece housing 18 andincludes an upper portion 48 and a lower portion 50. In alternativeembodiments, the housing may be of one piece or multiple pieces.

Closure door 24 is rotatably coupled to bottom wall 56 of platform 20and is biased upwardly in direction 38 by torsion spring 26 to close anozzle-receiving aperture 46 formed in platform 20. Torsion spring 26 iscoupled to torsion spring support 57 and includes a first leg 72engaging torsion spring support 57 and a second leg 74 engaging closuredoor 24 to bias closure door 24 upwardly in direction 38. In alternativeembodiments of the present invention, the torsion spring and closuredoor may be coupled to different structures.

Closure door 24 includes a coupling 76 coupled to bottom wall 56 and acircular plate 78. Circular plate 78 includes a circumferential sealingsurface 79 that engages annular seal 28. Seal 28 is coupled to bottomwall 56 as shown in FIG. 1.

When fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 is inserted into closure assembly 10,nozzle 14 pushes closure door 24 in direction 186 against the bias oftorsion spring 26 so that a portion of closure door 24 does not engageseal 28 as shown in FIG. 2. This permits pressurized vapor 1088 withinfiller neck 12 to flow past closure door 24 in direction 88 and throughnozzle aperture 46 between nozzle 14 and nozzle guide tube 40 indirection 90 out of closure assembly 10. After filler nozzle 14 ispushed further into filler neck 12 and begins dispensing fuel indirection 92, ambient air enters filler neck 12 in direction 94 betweennozzle 14 and nozzle guide tube 40.

Vacuum-relief valve 22 includes a valve plate 58, a stem 60 coupled tovalve plate 58, a compression spring 59, a valve housing 62 having aninterior region or bypass passageway 64, receiving valve plate 58, andstem 60 therein, and an annular valve seat 66 defining an inletcommunicating pressurized fuel vapor from filler neck 12 to theatmosphere through interior region 64 and the rest of closure assembly10.

Valve plate 58 cooperates with compression spring 59 and housing 18 tofunction as a pressure-relief valve. The compression spring 59 biasesvalve plate 58 downward in direction 61 so that valve plate 58 sealsagainst annular valve seat 66. Compression spring 59 permits valve plate58 to move upward in direction 63 relative to housing 18 if excessivevapor pressure exists in filler neck 12 as shown in FIG. 5. Theexcessive vapor pressure moves valve plate 58 upward in direction 63against the bias of compression spring 59 so that pressurized fuel vapormay flow out of closure assembly 10 through interior region 64 andhousing 18 in direction 110 and through vent 32 formed in cover 16 indirection 112.

The torsion spring 26 cooperates with closure door 24 and seal plate 20to function as a vacuum valve as shown in FIG. 6. If a vacuum conditionexists in filler neck 12, ambient air is permitted to flow into closureassembly 10 through vent 32 formed in cover 16 and “push” closure door24 in direction 86 against the bias of torsion spring 26 so that theambient air may flow past closure door 24 and into filler neck 12 indirection 92.

A valve actuator 80 is provided for moving vacuum-relief valve 22 to anopened position in response to insertion of fuel-dispensing nozzle 14into closure assembly 10 during refueling. Valve actuator 80 operates toapply a force to stem 60 to dislodge valve plate 58 from sealedengagement with valve seat 66 to permit pressurized fuel vapor 69 infiller neck 12 to pass through the opening defined by valve seat 66,interior region 64 in valve housing 62, and open mouth 31 of housing 18(since cover 16 is pivoted to its opened position during refueling) toreach the atmosphere outside of the closure assembly.

Valve actuator 80 is made of an electrically conductive material andincludes a base 81 coupled for pivotable movement about pivot axis 82 toa portion of closure assembly 10 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-3.Valve actuator 80 further includes a nozzle arm 83 coupled to base 81 topivot therewith and arranged to extend into a nozzle-receivingpassageway 84 formed in closure apparatus 10 and communicating with openmouth 31 and nozzle-receiving aperture 46. Valve actuator 80 furtherincludes a stem arm 85 coupled to base 81 to pivot therewith andarranged to engage and apply a lateral offset force to stem 60 duringmovement of fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 in nozzle-receiving passageway 84toward closure door 24. Valve actuator 80 further includes a conductorarm 86 coupled to base 81 to pivot therewith and is arranged to extendthrough an opening 87 formed in housing 18 to establish electricalcontact with the metal filler neck 12.

The valve actuator 80 operates in the following manner during fuel tankrefueling. Fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 engages nozzle arm 83 as it movesin nozzle-receiving passageway 84 toward a closure door 24 to pivotvalve actuator 80 about pivot axis 82 from its normal position shown inFIG. 1 in a clockwise direction to its actuated position as shown inFIG. 2. In the actuated position, stem arm 85 has moved against stem 60in pressure-relief valve 22 to move the outermost tip of stem 60 in alateral direction so as to cause valve plate 58 loaded by compressionspring 59 and coupled to valve stem 60 to be moved somewhat to break theliquid fuel and fuel vapor seal established between valve plate 58 andannular valve seat 66. Once valve plate 58 is dislodged as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 2 and 3, pressurized fuel vapor 69 extant in fillerneck 12 can move through the now-open pressure-relief valve 22 as shownin FIG. 3 to reach the atmosphere. Valve stem 60 will remain in itscanted or tilted position due to the urging force applied by stem arm 85of valve actuator 80 as long as fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 remains inclosure assembly 10. Once fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 is removed fromclosure assembly 10, a spring characteristic of the metal valve actuator80 (preferably made of stainless steel) will cause valve actuator 80 toelastically return to its original position shown in FIG. 1. Movement ofvalve actuator 80 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the deflected,valve-actuating position shown in FIG. 2 does not cause valve actuator80 to exceed its elastic limit so that it can operate time and againeach time a vehicle refueling activity is undertaken usingfuel-dispensing nozzle 14.

As noted above, valve actuator 80 is made of an electrically conductivemetal material so that it can act to establish an electricallyconductive path from the metal tip of fuel-dispensing nozzle 14 to themetal filler neck 12 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. This conductivepath is established by nozzle arm 83, base 81, and conductor arm 86. Asnoted above, conductor arm 86 is arranged to pass through an opening 87formed in the plastic housing 18 so as to reach and establish electricalconduct with the metal filler neck 12.

Features of this invention may be used in other closure assembliesincluding capless closure assemblies. Examples of capless closureassemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,840 entitled “ClosureAssembly For A Tank Filler Neck” and PCT Patent ApplicationPCT/US98/02876 entitled “Seal For Filler Neck Closure Assembly”, thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to acertain preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filler neck closure assembly comprising, afiller neck including a conductive portion made of an electricallyconductive material, the filler neck having an inner surface defining anozzle-receiving passageway and an outer end formed to include a mouthopening into the nozzle-receiving passageway, a closure door mounted formovement relative to the filler neck and being positioned to lie withinthe nozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzlemoving in the passageway, and an actuator made of an electricallyconductive material and mounted between the mouth and the closure door,the actuator including a substantially stationary conductor arm portionarranged to contact the conductive portion of the filler neck and amoveable nozzle arm portion being positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage and be moved by a fuel-dispensingnozzle inserted into the passageway through the mouth.
 2. The fillerneck closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the filler neck furtherincludes an interior portion made of an electrically non-conductivematerial and the actuator is mounted to the interior portion.
 3. Afiller neck closure assembly comprising, a filler neck including aconductive portion made of an electrically conductive material, thefiller neck having an inner surface defining a nozzle-receivingpassageway and an outer end formed to include a mouth opening into thenozzle-receiving passageway, a closure door mounted for movementrelative to the filler neck and being positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving inthe passageway, an actuator made of an electrically conductive materialand mounted between the mouth and the closure door for movement relativeto the filler neck, the actuator including a conductor arm arranged tocontact the conductive portion of the filler neck and a nozzle arm beingpositioned to lie within the nozzle-receiving passageway to engage afuel-dispensing nozzle inserted into the passageway through the mouth,and wherein the filler neck further includes an interior portion made ofan electrically non-conductive material and the actuator is mounted tothe interior portion.
 4. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 3,wherein the interior portion includes an outer sleeve, the conductiveportion of the filler neck is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relationto the nozzle arm to position a portion of the outer sleevetherebetween, the portion of the outer sleeve is formed to include anaperture therein, and the conductor arm is arranged to extend throughthe aperture to transmit an electrical charge from a fuel-dispensingnozzle engaging the nozzle arm to the conductive portion of the fillerneck.
 5. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 4, wherein the outersleeve has a cylindrical shape and the conductive portion of the fillerneck surrounds the outer sleeve and the aperture is formed in the outersleeve to lie between the closure door and the mouth of the filler neck.6. The filler neck assembly of claim 3, wherein the interior portion isformed to include a nozzle conduit having an inlet communicating withthe mouth of the filler neck and an outlet lying in spaced-apartrelation to the inlet and communicating with an inner region of thefiller neck to define a portion of the nozzle-receiving passagewaytherebetween, the closure door is pivotably mounted to the nozzleconduit normally to close the outlet, and the interior portion furtherincludes a bypass conduit having an inlet communicating with the innerregion of the filler neck and an outlet communicating with the portionof the nozzle-receiving passageway and lying in spaced-apart relation tothe inlet to define a bypass passageway therebetween to conductpressurized fuel vapor extant in the inner region of the filler neck tothe mouth of the filler neck when the closure door is positioned toclose the outlet of the nozzle conduit and a portion of the actuator ispositioned to lie in the outlet of the bypass passageway.
 7. The fillerneck of claim 6, further comprising a pressure-relief valve mounted inthe bypass passageway for movement between an opened position allowingflow of fuel vapor through the bypass passageway to the mouth and aclosed position blocking flow of fuel vapor through the bypasspassageway to the mouth and the actuator further includes a stem armcoupled to the nozzle arm for movement therewith against thepressure-relief valve and relative to the interior portion from aninactive position to a valve-actuating position to cause thepressure-relief valve to be moved to the opened position in response tomovement of the nozzle arm by a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving in thenozzle-receiving passageway.
 8. The filler neck of claim 7, wherein theactuator includes a pivot mount coupled to the interior portion, each ofthe nozzle and conductor arms include a base coupled to the pivot mount,and a distal tip, the distal tips of the nozzle and conductor arms arepositioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to define a wedge-shapedregion therebetween and the stem arm is positioned to lie in thewedge-shaped region.
 9. The filler neck of claim 3, wherein the interiorportion is formed to include a bypass passageway, a pressure-reliefvalve is mounted in the interior portion to regulate fuel vapor flowthrough the bypass passageway to the mouth while the closure door ispositioned to block flow of fuel vapor through the nozzle-receivingpassageway, and the actuator further includes a stem arm arranged tomove the pressure-relief valve to an opened position in the bypasspassageway in response to movement of the nozzle arm by afuel-dispensing nozzle moving in the nozzle-receiving passageway. 10.The filler neck of claim 9, herein the actuator further includes a pivotmount coupled to the interior portion, each of the nozzle, stem, andconductor arms is arranged to extend radially relative to the pivotmount, and the stem arm is arranged to lie between the nozzle andconductor arms.
 11. A filler neck closure assembly comprising, a fillerneck having an inner surface defining a nozzle-receiving passageway andan outer end formed to include a mouth opening into the nozzle-receivingpassageway, a closure door mounted for movement relative to the fillerneck, the closure door being positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving inthe nozzle-receiving passageway, a housing being positioned to liewithin the nozzle-receiving passageway and formed to include an interiorregion to vent fuel vapor through the filler neck to the mouth while theclosure door is closed, an actuator mounted to the housing for movementrelative to the filler neck, the actuator including a nozzle arm and astem arm, and a pressure-relief valve mounted within interior region formovement between an opened position allowing flow of fuel vapor throughthe interior region and to the mouth and a closed position blocking flowof fuel vapor, wherein the stem arm of the actuator is arranged toengage and move the pressure-relief valve to the opened position inresponse to movement of the nozzle arm by a fuel-dispensing nozzlemoving in the nozzle-receiving passageway.
 12. The filler neck closureassembly of claim 11, wherein the pressure-relief valve includes a valveseat having a fuel vapor inlet, a valve plate, a spring positioned tobias the valve plate against the valve seat to form a vapor sealtherebetween, and a stem coupled to the valve plate, and wherein thestem arm is arranged to engage and tilt the stem to break the vaporseal.
 13. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 12, wherein thefiller neck defines a central axis and the nozzle arm is positioned tolie between the pressure-relief valve and the central axis.
 14. Thefiller neck closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing furtherincludes a pivot, the nozzle arm and stem arm are coupled to and moveabout the pivot, and the pivot is positioned to lie between thepressure-relief valve and the mouth.
 15. The filler neck closureassembly of claim 14, further comprising a cover being positioned to liewithin the mouth, the cover including a vent channel in communicationwith the interior region of the housing and the atmosphere.
 16. Thefiller neck closure assembly of claim 11, further comprising a coverbeing positioned to lie within the mouth, the cover including a ventchannel in communication with the interior region of the housing and theatmosphere.
 17. A filler neck closure assembly comprising, a filler neckincluding a conductive portion made of an electrically conductivematerial, the filler neck having an inner surface defining anozzle-receiving passageway and an outer end formed to include a mouthopening into the nozzle-receiving passageway, a closure door mounted formovement relative to the filler neck, the closure door being positionedto lie within the nozzle-receiving passageway to engage afuel-dispensing nozzle moving in the nozzle-receiving passageway, ahousing made of an electrically non-conductive material, the housingbeing positioned to lie within the nozzle-receiving passageway andformed to include an interior region to vent fuel vapor through thefiller neck to the mouth while the closure door is closed, an actuatormade of an electrically conductive material and mounted to the housingfor movement relative to the filler neck, the actuator including a stemarm, a nozzle arm being positioned to lie within the nozzle-receivingpassageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle inserted into thepassageway through the mouth, and a conductor arm arranged to contactthe conductive portion of the filler neck, and a pressure-relief valvemounted within interior region for movement between an opened positionallowing flow of fuel vapor through the interior region and to the mouthand a closed position blocking flow of fuel vapor, wherein the stem armof the actuator is arranged to engage and move the pressure-relief valveto the opened position in response to movement of the nozzle arm by afuel-dispensing nozzle moving in the nozzle-receiving passageway. 18.The filler neck closure assembly of claim 17, wherein thepressure-relief valve includes a valve seat having a fuel vapor inlet, avalve plate, a spring positioned to bias the valve plate against thevalve seat to form a vapor seal therebetween, and a stem coupled to thevalve plate, and wherein the stem arm is arranged to engage and tilt thestem to break the vapor seal.
 19. The filler neck closure assembly ofclaim 18, wherein the filler neck defines a central axis and the nozzlearm is positioned to lie between the pressure-relief valve and thecentral axis.
 20. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 19, whereinthe housing further includes a pivot, the nozzle arm, stem arm andconductor arm are coupled to and move about the pivot, and the pivot ispositioned to lie between the pressure-relief valve and the mouth. 21.The filler neck closure assembly of claim 20, further comprising a coverbeing positioned to lie within the mouth, the cover including a ventchannel in communication with the interior region of the housing and theatmosphere.
 22. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 17, furthercomprising a cover being positioned to lie within the mouth, the coverincluding a vent channel in communication with the interior region ofthe housing and the atmosphere.
 23. A filler neck closure assemblycomprising, a filler neck including a grounded portion made of anelectrically conductive material, a housing mounted in the filler neckand having an inner surface defining a nozzle-receiving passageway andan outer end formed to include a mouth opening into the nozzle-receivingpassageway, a closure door mounted in the housing for movement relativeto the filler neck and being positioned to lie within thenozzle-receiving passageway to engage a fuel-dispensing nozzle moving inthe passageway, and an actuator made of an electrically conductivematerial and mounted in the housing and including a relativelystationary conductor arm portion arranged to electrically contact theconductive portion of the filler neck and a moveable nozzle arm portionbeing positioned to lie within the nozzle-receiving passageway to engageand be moved by a fuel-dispensing nozzle inserted into the passagewaythrough the mouth.
 24. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 23,wherein the housing includes an interior portion made of an electricallynon-conductive material and the actuator is mounted to the interiorportion.
 25. The filler neck closure assembly of claim 24, wherein thehousing includes an outer sleeve, formed to include an aperture therein,and the conductor arm portion is arranged to extend through the apertureto transmit an electrical charge from a fuel-dispensing nozzle engagingthe nozzle arm portion to the conductive portion of the filler neck.